Nigerians have been reassured by Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, that the human papillomavirus vaccination, which was introduced on Tuesday by Senator Oluremi Tinubu is safe.
Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday Alausa gave the assurance after paying a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina.
The minister said that “HPV vaccine is 100 per cent safe. This is a vaccine that has been in existence for about 18 years now, and Nigeria is late to adopt this vaccine.”
He emphasised that “this vaccine will prevent cervical cancer by 95%,” noting that 8,000 or more Nigerian women are currently “dying from cervical cancer.”
He urged that girls between the ages of nine and fifteen be encouraged to get the vaccination, noting that several nations are currently delivering it to women as old as 45.
He said:
“It is a safe vaccine. We should encourage all our young girls between the ages of nine and 15 years to get this vaccine. In fact, in other parts of the world, the HPV vaccine has been expanded to (be administered to women) as old as 45 years.
“It saves lives, it prevents cancer. This is one of the preventive things we could do to help our healthcare system.
“So, let me emphatically say it again: HPV vaccine, human papillomavirus vaccine is 100 per cent safe. I’m a physician. I’m a father. I have a daughter and she got the vaccine when she was 13 years old and that was about 13 years ago.
“So, I’m putting my mouth where my money is; HPV vaccine is safe. Please, discount any ignorant, uneducated social media information you get. HPV vaccine is safe.”
cc: Punch Ng
